Automobile lock system



T. R. conmcm AUTOMOBILE LOCK SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 3. I92].

1,435,809, Patented 3m. 14, 1922".

i 2 SHEETS-SHEET I- T. R. CORNICK.

AUTQMOBILE LOCK SYSTEM. APucAnou FILED JAN. 3. 1921.-

1,435,809, Patented Nov. 14, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHED 2.

Patented Nov. 14, 1922.

PATENT OFFICE.

TULLY R. CORNICK, OF PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA.

AUTOMOBILE LOCK SYSTEM.

Application filed January 3, 1921.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, TULLY R. CORNICK, a citizen of the United States, residing at letaluma, in the county of Sonoma and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile Lock Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a locking apparatus for fuel feed system of automobiles.

The primary object of the invention 1s the provision of a locking means suitable for use for either gravity, pressure, or vacuum feed systems.-

A further object is to provide means for draining the vacuum tank when the main system has been cut off to prevent the use of the fuel in the gravity compartment of the vacuum tank.

A further object is to arrange in the vacuum system an. auxiliary tank in the main feed line, which will feed by gravity a given amount of fuel to the vacuum tank for initial starting purposes, where, for instance, the carburetor may have been drained. by an attempt to start the car when the main feed line is locked.

A further object of my invention is to provide a system which, while it is effectually locked against theft, will however permit of a slight movement of the car when it deslrable'perhaps to move the car a moderate distance in case of fire.

In the accompanying drawingsliiig. 1 a diagrammatic view showing my invention applied to the vacuum system;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing my invention. as applied to the gravity or pressure system;

Fig. 3 is a detail. sectional view of the cornbination locking valve;

Fig. 1 is an enlarged detail view of the drainage tank.

Fig. 5 is aside elevation of the plunger for actuating the valve of the lock.

As indicated in Fig. 1, the usual vacuum system comprises a supply tank 1, a vacuum tank 2, and a carburetor 3, the fuel being fed from the supply tank to the vacuum tank 2 through the action of vacuum produced. by the engine. As undoubtedly understood, when a certain amount of fuel is drained into the upper half of the vacuum Serial No. 434,564.

tank'2, the vacuum ceases to operate through a float, and until the level of the fuel in said tank reaches a certain lower level it feeds to the carburetor by gravity alone. When this certaln lower level is reached, the vacuum is again operated until the original higher level is again reached, whereupon the operation is repeated.

1,.indica'tes the combination locking valve compartment interposed between the supply tank 1 and the vacuum tank 2. 5, indicates an auxiliary supply tank communicating with the locking valve compartment 4:, the auxiliary supply tank being connected by feed pipe 6 to the main supply, and the lockmg valve compartment 41- being connected. by feed line 7 to the vacuum and tank 2. The locking valve arranged in the lockingvalve compartment 4: preferably consists of a body portion 8 having a countersunk portion 8, which is adapted to receive a cap 9.

Arranged in the chamber 8 is a plunger 10 having flexibly secured to its outer face a flat valve 11. 12, indicates a plunger-stem extending through the body portion 8 and adapted to receive on the outer end thereof an actuating-member 13 which is controlled by a handle 14 arranged in the compartment 4 and controlled by combination lock 16.

Ordinarily the supply of fuel is carried from the .main supply tank 1 to the auxiliary tank 5 through the combination compartl'nent 41, and thence to the vacuum tank The purpose of the auxiliary supply tank 5 is to supply enough fuel to the car buretor by gravity in. case some unauthorized person. has attempted to start the car during the absence of the operator and drained off the (ni'bin'etoi' completely. To accomplish this, the intake 18 of the supplytank is arranged at-the upper edge at one end, and the outlet 19is arranged at the lower edge of the opposite end. Connected to the outlet is a stand-pipe 20 provided with an opening at its extreme upper end near the top of the tank. 1

Thus it will be seen that ordinarily the tank is fully charged with fuel before it finally passes through the outlet 19. In case it is desirable to empty the contents of the auxiliary tank into the vacuum tank, a simi lar valved nipple 21 is arranged at the bot tom of the standpipe having an actuating lever 22 extending outside of the tank, whereby the tank may be drained by gravity of its contents.

In view of the gravity part ot the vacuum tank 2 always holding sullicient to allow the car to operate for some miles, it becomes necessary not only to close the gasoline from the main tank 1, but it is also necessary to remove all of the gasoline from the gravity compartment of the vacuum tank. To eltect this, a drainage tank 23 is arranged at an elevation sutticiently lower than the vacuum tank to allow the gasoline therein to drain out. This drainage tank is preferably actuated by avalve 24; controlled by an actuating-stem 25 extending up through the dash of the car. Actuated by this actuating stem is an air vent 26, arranged at the upper end. of the drainage tank, which is simultaneously opened with the opening of the valve 24 to allow the drainage tank to till properly.

it is obvious that some means must be provided ilor emptying the drainage tank at in tervals, in order that it may properly function. To accomplish this, a bypass 27 is adapted to extend well into the bottom of the drainage-tank 23, and is connected to the main supply tank 6. Thus when the operator releases the combination valve to start the engine, he first closes valve 2st and the air valve 26 by the actuation of the actuating-stem whereupon the suction affected by the engine has the effect of draining the drainage-tank.

As disclosed in Fig. 2, the system comprises the main supply tank 1, the combination locking compartment l, and the carburetor 8, it being observed that the carburetor is ted by gravity from the main supply in which case it is only necessary to cut oil the supply by actuation of the combination lock 16.

In the vacuum system, the operation is as follows :lVhen bringing the car to a stop, the operator pulls up on the actuating-stem 25, thereby opening the air-vent ot the drain tank A, and opening the needlevalve 51A, which eliects the drainage of the lower gravity compartment oi? the vacuum tank, atter which the combination v: lVG is manipulated to eil iect the closing of the main line between the supply and the main tank. Upon starting up the car, the actuating-stem 25 is pushed downwardly, closing the vent 26, closing the valve 24, atter which the combination lockis released, opening the main supply line to the vacuum tank 2, the engine being provided with su'll'icient fuel for starting by the contents ot the carburetor. The starting of the engine produces sutlicient vacuum to start the circulation of fuel tln-ough the system. Should the i')perator in starting discover that an attempt has been made to start the motor and the carburetor evha'usti-nl ot its supply, the actuatting-imlve 22 oi" the auxiliary tank?) is actuated, whereupon the contents thereof are delivered by gravity to the vacuum tank Q, and thence to the carburetor, giving a suliicieut charge to start the engine, after which the usual system is brought into operation.

I claim:

1. In a locking apparatus, the combination with a tuel supply tank and a carburetor, a feed line therebetween, ot a locking device comprising a tank interposed in the feed line, normally maintaining a reserve supply of fuel, means for shutting olif the normal :llow through the tank, and means for draining the reserve supply from said tanl'c.

In a locking apparatus, the combiuation with av vacuum line, av vacuum tank, and a carburetor fuel line, of: a lock connected in the vacuum line adapted to close same when turned in one direction, and an auxiliary supply tank connected in the vacuum line between the lock and supply-tank adapted to teed by gravity a given quantity o'l gasoline to the vacuum tank.

ill a locking 21])1Jni'iltlls, the combinution with a vacuum. line, a vacuum tank, and a carburetor fuel line, of a lock connected in the vacuum line adapted to close the same when turned in one direction, and a drainage tank connected to the vacuum tank, whereby the latter may be emptied ot contents.

4-. in a locking apparatus, the combination with a vacuum line, a vacuum tank, and a carburetor fuel line, of a lock connected in the vacuum line adapted to close the same when turned in one direction, a drainage tank connected to the vacuum tank, whereby the latter may be emptied of its contents, and means connecteo with said branch tank and vacuum line ".vhereby the drainage to n k may be emptied upon the initial starting ot the engine. i

5. In a locking a m-Mates, the combina tion with a vacuum line, a vacuum tank, and a carburetor fuel line, oil a lock connected in the vacljn'un line iulapted to close same when turned in one direction, an auxiliary supply tank coi'inected in the vacuum line between the lock and the supply tank adapted to teed by gravity a given quantity of gasoline to the vacnmn tank, and a drainage tank connected to the vacuum tank whereby the latter may be emptied ot its contents.

6. In a locking a jiparatus, the combination with a vacuum line, a vacuum tank and a carburetor fuel line, of a lock connected in the vacuum line adapted to close same when turned in one direction, an auxiliary supply tank comiected in the vacuum line between the lock and the supply tank, adapted to feed by gravity a given quantity o'l gasoline to the vacuum tank, a (ll'itlllitfjjlt tank connected to the vacuinu tank, whereby the latter may be emptied of its contents, and means connected with said drainage tank and vacuum line, whereliiy the drainage tank may be emptied upon the initial starting of the engine.

7. In a locking apparatus, the combination with a vacuum line, a vacuum tank, a carburetor fuel line, a lock connected in the vacuum line adapted to control the same when turned in one direction comprising a body portion, provided with inlet and outlet ports, a reciprocating plunger therein controlling said outlet port, and a combination lock controlling said reciprocating plunger, whereby the plunger may be locked in. an open or closed position.

8. In a locking apparatus, the combination with a vacuum line, a vacuum tank, a carburetor fuel line, a lock connected in the vacuum line adapted to control. the same when turned in one direction comprising a body portion, provided with inlet and outlet ports, a reciprocating plunger therein controlling said outlet port, a combination lock controlling said reciprocating plunger, whereby the plunger may be locked in an open or closed position, and a drainage tank connected to the vacuum tank adapted to empty the latter of its contents by gravity, a valve interposed between the vacuum tank and the drainage tank, an air-vent arranged in the top of said drainage tank, and a common actuating means to both of said valves, whereby they are simultaneously opened and closed.

9. In a locking apparatus, the combination with a vacuum line, a vacuum tank, and a carburetor fuel line, of a lock connected. to the vacuum line adapted to close the same when turned in one direction, said lock comprising a hollow body portion provided with inlet and outlet ports, a recipro eating valve arranged therein adapted to control. said outlet port, a combination look ingineans controlling said reciprocating valve wherel'iy the latter may be locked in either an open or closed position, and a drainage tank connected to the vacuum tank, whereby the latter may be emptied of its contents by gravity, a valve lllllGIj'flflSGll bctween the wicuuni tank and the drainage tank, an air-valve arranged in the upper end of said drainage tank, means common to both of said valves for simultaneously opening and closing the same and means eonnected with said drainage tank and vacuum line whereby the drainage tank may be emptied. of its contents upon the initial starting of the engine.

10. In a locking apparatus, the combine-- tion with a vacuum line, a vacuum tank, and a carburetor fuel line, of a lock connected to the vacuum line adapted to close the same when turned in one direction, said lock comprising a hollow body portion provided with inlet and outlet ports, a reciprocating valve arranged therein adapted to control said outlet port, a combination locking means controlling said reciprocating valve, where by the latter may be locked in either an opened. or closed position, an auxiliary tank connected in the vacuum line between the lock and the supply tank adapted to feed by gravity a given quantity of gasoline to the vacuum tank, and a drainage tank con nected to the vacuum tank, whereby the latter may be emptied of its contents by gravity, a valve interposed between the vacuum tank and the drainage tank, an airvalve arranged in the upper end of said drainage tank, means common to both of said valves for simultaneously opening and closing the same, and means connected with said drainage tank and vacuum line, where by the drainage tank may be emptied of its contents upon the initial starting of the engine.

11. In a locking apparatus, the combination with a fuel supply tank and a carburetor, a feed line therebetween including an auxiliary tank, means for maintaining a reserve supply of fuel in said auxiliary tank, during the normal operation of the system. includin a standpipe in the tank open at the top, of means for interrupting the flow through the auxiliary tank and the standpipe, and additional means for draining the reserve supply of fuel from the auxiliary tank.

12. In a locking apparatus, the combination with a fuel. supply tank and a car buretor, a feed line therebetween, of a looking device comprising a tank interposed in the feed line and normally maintaining a reserve supply of fuel during the normal functioning of the system including a stand pipe open at the upper end. and connected at the lower end with the feed line, and means for draining the reserve supply fuel in said auxi ry tank into said feed. line, said lastmentioned means including a valve nipple connected with the bottom of the standpipe, a valve in the nipple, an actuating lever extending beyond the tank, and means for locking said lever in a desired position.

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature.

TULLY R. CORNIOK. 

